Content display-playback system, content display-playback method, recording medium having content display-playback program recorded thereon, and operation control apparatus

ABSTRACT

A content display-playback system includes at least one server that distributes audio-visual content via streaming, and at least one client that plays back, by streaming, the content distributed via streaming from the server, and the server and client are connected. The client beforehand makes settings regarding a client operation to be performed for submitting a streaming distribution request to the server to perform playback by streaming.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2005-150226 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on May23, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a content display-playback system andcontent display-playback method in which a content providing apparatusand display-playback apparatus connected to a wired or wireless networkare controlled in operation by an operation control apparatus so thatvideo information can be transmitted among the content providingapparatus, the display-playback apparatus, and the operation controlapparatus and that video can be displayed on the display-playbackapparatus and the operation control apparatus. The present inventionalso relates to a recording medium having recorded thereon a contentdisplay-playback program implementing the content display-playbackmethod. The present invention also relates to an operation controlapparatus in the content display-playback system for controllingoperations of the content providing apparatus and the display-playbackapparatus via the network.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the prevalence of video recorders capable of recording television(TV) broadcast programs onto videotapes, a “time-shift” viewing style inwhich users view TV broadcast programs at any convenient time, ratherthan the broadcast time, has become common. In such a viewing style, theusers record many TV broadcast programs and view them later. The recentevolution of recording media from videotapes to hard disks allows theusers to easily store a larger amount of video data in hard disks(storage devices) without worrying about the capacity. Suchhard-disk-based video recorders are hereinafter referred to as “digitalvideo recorders (DVRs)”, unless specifically stated otherwise.

In a recent content display-playback system, an audio-visual (AV)content server (content providing apparatus) and a display-playbackapparatus, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display(LCD), or a plasma display, are connected to a wired or wireless networkestablished in a home, office, local area, or global area environment.In this content display-playback system, for example, a user whoconnects at least one digital video recorder to the network as an AVcontent server can view a recorded TV broadcast program over the networkeven at a place distant from the AV content server.

In an existing TV set, a user operates buttons or the like on a remoteoperation apparatus, an operation control apparatus, or a remotecommander (hereinafter referred to as a “remote controller”) for the TVset to display a menu for selection of an available operation on adisplay screen of the TV set. The user uses the remote controller forthe TV set to select an item of interest, and operates the remotecontroller according to guidance displayed on the display screen toperform the desired operation, such as image quality control or timersetting.

In a receiver for receiving a satellite broadcast signal, such as aset-top box (STB) or an integrated receiver decoder (IRD), electronicprogram guide (EPG) data is displayed on the display screen of a monitorreceiver. A user uses a remote controller attached to the receiver toselect a desired program based on the EPG displayed on the displayscreen of the monitor receiver, whereby a desired one of channelsavailable on the receiver can be selected.

As such, the TV set or the receiver for receiving a TV broadcast signalis configured to provide a user-friendly easy-to-use selection of anitem of interest by combining a guide information view, such as a menu,guidance, or EPG, on the display screen with the operation of the remotecontroller.

In some cases, however, the above-mentioned operation in which necessaryinformation, such as a menu or guidance, is displayed on the displayscreen of a TV set or a receiver, such as an STB or IRD, and a useroperates a remote controller while viewing the information to perform adesired operation on the TV set or the like is complicated.

For example, the user scrolls through a plurality of menu pages orfrequently operates the remote controller to move a cursor over thedisplay screen to display a menu page including an item of interest fromthe plurality of menu pages, and further sets the selected item usingthe remote controller.

With the employment of LCD panels and the like, the compactness andportability of monitor devices for TV sets and the like have increased,which are designed to be operable within the vicinity of the users. Insuch cases, remote controllers for the TV sets are no longer necessary.Moreover, the users may be dissatisfied with the existence of remotecontrollers for operating external input devices, such as receivers, forsupplying video signals and audio signals to the TV sets.

The present inventors have proposed a two-way communication systemcapable of setting up a more easy-to-use home network in which a displaydevice can be used to view video information, such as a televisionprogram, and to listen to audio information and in which a base devicefor supplying a video signal to the display device and an external inputdevice connected to the base device can be remotely operated by means ofoperation display information displayed on a display element of thedisplay device and a touch position detector, such as a touch panel, toallow remote operation without performing any bothersome operation. Thissystem enables remote operation of the base device and the externalinput device connected to the base device by means of the operationdisplay information displayed on the display element of the displaydevice and the touch position detector, such as a touch panel, andenables the desired video to be selected and displayed on the displaydevice by means of an easy operation.

The present inventors have further proposed a content display-playbacksystem and a video display control apparatus, which are disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-333359, inwhich a video signal is supplied from a base device to a plurality ofdisplay devices using the above-mentioned two-way communication system,wherein a user only strokes the surface of the display screen of adisplay device with his/her finger to transmit and receive video betweenvideo devices to provide sensible switching, unlike a typical buttonoperation of a remote controller. Specifically, in response to a gestureinput provided by the user who moves his/her finger upward on a surfaceof a touch panel provided on an LCD of a portable display device, a“throw” function of switching the display of video A from the portabledisplay device to a larger display device on which video B has beendisplayed is carried out. In response to a gesture input provided by theuser who moves his/her finger downward on the surface of the touch panelprovided on the LCD of the portable display device, a “catch” functionof switching the display of the video B from the larger display deviceto the portable display device on which the video A has been displayedis carried out. The throw/catch functions disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-333359 allowintuitive switching between a plurality of display devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a content display-playback system of the related art including atleast one content providing apparatus (server) capable of distributingAV content via streaming and at least one client that receives thedistributed content, in response to a streaming distribution requestfrom the client, the AV content server generally plays back the contentfrom the beginning.

In a content display-playback system in which at least one digital videorecorder is connected as an AV content server to the network, with theuse of the throw/catch functions disclosed in the above-notedpublication, it is conceivable to transmit and receive video datalocated on the AV content server between the portable display device(first client) and the larger display device (second client). Thethrow/catch functions allow easy streaming playback on a desired client,which may inconvenience some users in performing operations because thedesired operations differ from one user to another.

It is therefore desirable to provide a content display-playback systemand content display-playback method in which the playback start positioncan be set according to user's preferences when video data located on acontent providing apparatus, which is a server, is displayed and playedback by one or a plurality of clients while the video data istransmitted and received among the server and the client or clients.

It is further desirable to provide a recording medium having recordedthereon a content display-playback program in which the playback startposition can be set according to user's preferences when video datalocated on a content providing apparatus, which is a server, isdisplayed and played back by one or a plurality of clients while thevide data is transmitted and received among the server and the client orclients.

It is further desirable to provide an operation control apparatus inwhich the playback start position can be set according to user'spreferences when video data located on a content providing apparatus,which is a server, is displayed and played back by one or a plurality ofclients while the video data is transmitted and received among theserver and the client or clients.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided acontent display-playback system including at least one server thatdistributes audio-visual content via streaming, and at least one clientthat plays back, by streaming, the content distributed via streamingfrom the server, wherein the server and the client are connected. In thecontent display-playback system, the client beforehand makes settingsregarding a client operation to be performed for submitting a streamingdistribution request to the server to perform playback by streaming.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided acontent display-playback system including at least one server thatdistributes audio-visual content via streaming, and a plurality ofclients that play back, by streaming, the content distributed viastreaming from the server, wherein the server and the clients areconnected. In the content display-playback system, the plurality ofclients include a first client and a second client, and the secondclient makes settings regarding an operation of the first client and anoperation of the second client when a streaming distribution request isreceived from the second client during streaming distribution to thefirst client.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided acontent display-playback method for a content display-playback system inwhich at least one server that distributes audio-visual content viastreaming and at least one client that plays back, by streaming, thecontent distributed via streaming from the server are connected. Thecontent display-playback method includes the step of allowing the clientto beforehand make settings regarding a client operation to be performedfor submitting a streaming distribution request to the server to performplayback by streaming.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided acontent display-playback method for a content display-playback system inwhich at least one server that distributes audio-visual content viastreaming and a plurality of clients that play back, by streaming, thecontent distributed via streaming from the server are connected, theplurality of clients including a first client and a second client. Thecontent display-playback method includes the step of allowing the secondclient to make settings regarding an operation of the first client andan operation of the second client when a streaming distribution requestis received from the second client during streaming distribution to thefirst client.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided arecording medium having recorded thereon a content display-playbackprogram executed by a content display-playback system in which at leastone server that distributes audio-visual content via streaming and atleast one client that plays back, by streaming, the content distributedvia streaming from the server are connected. The contentdisplay-playback program allows the client to make settings regarding aclient operation to be performed for submitting a streaming distributionrequest to the server to perform playback by streaming.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided arecording medium having recorded thereon a content display-playbackprogram executed by a content display-playback system in which at leastone server that distributes audio-visual content via streaming and aplurality of clients that play back, by streaming, the contentdistributed via streaming from the server are connected, the pluralityof clients including a first client and a second client. The contentdisplay-playback program allows the second client to make settingsregarding an operation of the first client and an operation of thesecond client when a streaming distribution request is received from thesecond client during streaming distribution to the first client.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is providedan operation control apparatus in a content display-playback system. Theoperation control apparatus is used as a client connected to a serverthat distributes audio-visual content via streaming, and is operable toplay back, by streaming, the content distributed via streaming from theserver, wherein the content-display-playback operation control apparatusbeforehand makes settings regarding a client operation to be performedfor submitting a streaming distribution request to the server to performplayback by streaming.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is providedan operation control apparatus in a content display-playback system. Theoperation control apparatus is used as one of a plurality of clients,connected to at least one server that distributes audio-visual contentvia streaming, and is operable to play back, by streaming, the contentdistributed via streaming from the server, wherein thecontent-display-playback operation control apparatus beforehand makessettings regarding an operation of the operation control apparatus andan operation of a first client in the plurality of clients when theoperation control apparatus submits a streaming distribution requestduring streaming distribution to the first client.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, for example, when astreaming distribution request for standby content is initiallysubmitted from a client, the content can be played back from thebeginning.

When a streaming distribution request is submitted from a client to viewthe continued part of the standby content, the content can be playedback from a specified playback position. When distribution of continuedpart of content currently played back by streaming on a client isrequested, the content can be played back from the beginning or from acurrent playback position at which the request is submitted. Settings asto whether or not the initial streaming distribution is terminated canalso be made.

The content display-playback system and content display-playback methodaccording to the embodiments of the present invention enable theplayback start position to be set according to user's preferences whenvideo data located on a content providing apparatus, which is a server,is displayed and played back by one or a plurality of clients while thevideo data is transmitted and received.

The recording medium having recorded thereon the contentdisplay-playback program according to the embodiment of presentinvention is employed in the content display-playback system, thusenabling the playback start position to be set according to user'spreferences when video data located on a content providing apparatus,which is a server, is displayed and played back by one or a plurality ofclients when the video data is transmitted and received.

The operation control apparatus according to the present invention isprovided in the content display-playback system, and enables theplayback start position to be set according to user's preference whenvideo data located on a content providing apparatus, which is a server,is displayed and played back by one or a plurality of clients when thevideo data is transmitted and received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a content display-playback system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a content display-playback system;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a content display-playback system;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a content providing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a hardware diagram of the content providing apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a display-playback apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a hardware diagram of the display-playback apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an operation control apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a hardware diagram of the operation control apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a software diagram of the operation control apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display-playback process in the operationcontrol apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a throw operation by the operation controlapparatus;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a catch operation by the operation controlapparatus;

FIG. 14 is view illustrating a throw/catch operation setting menu;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a first part of a throw operationprocessing procedure;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a second part of the throw operationprocessing procedure; and

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a third part of the throw operationprocessing procedure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with referenceto the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a content display-playback system 1according to an embodiment of the present invention. The contentdisplay-playback system 1 is configured such that a content providingapparatus 12, which is implemented by, for example, an AV content serversuch as a digital video recorder, is connected to a home network 11having wired and wireless networks. An operation control apparatus 17that controls the operation of the content providing apparatus 12 isalso connected to the home network 11.

The home network 11 is an in-home digital network, and the contentproviding apparatus 12 is connected via a hub 11 a using a wired cable11 b, e.g., an IEEE 1394 cable. A wireless LAN access point 11 c isconnected to the hub 11 a, and the operation control apparatus 17 iswirelessly connected using a predetermined protocol, such as the IEEE802.11 protocol or an extension to the IEEE 802.11 protocol. Therefore,the operation control apparatus 17 is connected to the content providingapparatus 12 on the home network 11, and controls the operation of thecontent providing apparatus 12.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a content display-playback system 2 inwhich a display-playback apparatus 14 is connected to the hub 11 a. Theoperation control apparatus 17 is connected to the content providingapparatus 12 and the display-playback apparatus 14 on the home network11, and controls the operations of the content providing apparatus 12and display-playback apparatus 14.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a content display-playback system 10. Inthe content display-playback system 10, two content providingapparatuses, namely, content providing apparatuses 12 and 13, and threedisplay-playback apparatuses, namely, display-playback apparatuses 14,15, and 16, are connected to the hub 11 a and the operations of theseapparatuses are controlled by the operation control apparatus 17.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detailhereinafter in the context of the content display-playback system 2shown in FIG. 2. It is to be understood that the arrangement describedbelow is also applicable to the content display-playback system 1 shownin FIG. 1 and the content display-playback system 10 shown in FIG. 3.For example, the content display-playback system 1 includes at least oneserver (the content providing apparatus 12) that distributesaudio-visual content via streaming, and at least one client (theoperation control apparatus 17) that plays back the content distributedvia streaming from the server in a streaming manner. The client (theoperation control apparatus 17) is adapted to make settings regarding aclient operation to be performed for submitting a streaming distributionrequest to the server (the content providing apparatus 12) to performplayback by streaming.

In the content display-playback system 2 shown in FIG. 2, the operationcontrol apparatus 17 (which is a second client), the details of whichare discussed below, is provided with a display device, such as an LCD,and is capable of receiving audio-visual (AV) content distributed viastreaming and playing back the streaming content. The operation controlapparatus 17 is further provided with a function (control point (CP)) ofcontrolling other apparatuses. With the use of a wireless LAN section ofthe home network 11, the operation control apparatus 17, which is asecond client, is able to access apparatuses on the home network 11 viathe wireless LAN access point 11 c. In FIG. 2, the content providingapparatus 12 is an AV server capable of distributing streaming content.The content providing apparatus 12 stores AV content. Thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 is a first client having a streamingplayback function, and is controlled by the operation control apparatus17.

Therefore, the content display-playback system 2 is a contentdisplay-playback system including at least one server (the contentproviding apparatus 12) capable of distributing AV content via streamingand at least one client (the operation control apparatus 17) thatreceives the distributed content. In the content display-playback system2, when the operation control apparatus 17 controls a display-playbackoperation for content selected by the operation control apparatus 17 sothat the content distributed from the content providing apparatus 12 isplayed back by the display-playback apparatus 14 by means of a throwoperation, the operation control apparatus 17 enables thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 to play back the content from thebeginning of the content. The operation control apparatus 17 alsoenables the display-playback apparatus 14 to play back the content froma current position of the operation control apparatus 17 at which thethrow operation is performed. The operation control apparatus 17 furtherenables the display-playback apparatus 14 to play back the content fromthe beginning of the content when a current playback position of theoperation control apparatus 17 at which the throw operation is performedis less than a predetermined time.

In the content display-playback system 2, further, the operation controlapparatus 17 can be used to determine whether or not a confirmationscreen for allows the user to confirm acceptance of throw-based playbackby the display-playback apparatus 14 is displayed when the AV contentdistributed from the content providing apparatus 12 is to be played backby the display-playback apparatus 14 by means of a throw operation.

In the content display-playback system 2, further, when the operationcontrol apparatus 17 controls the display-playback operation so as toplay back, by means of a catch operation, AV content currently playedback by the display-playback apparatus 14 by streaming, the operationcontrol apparatus 17 can play back the AV content from the beginning.Further, when the operation control apparatus 17 controls thedisplay-playback operation so as to play back, by means of a catchoperation, AV content currently played back by the display-playbackapparatus 14 by streaming, the operation control apparatus 17 can playback the content from a current position at which the catch isperformed. Further, when the operation control apparatus 17 controls thedisplay-playback operation so as to play back, by means of a catchoperation, AV content currently played back by the display-playbackapparatus 14 by streaming, the operation control apparatus 17 can playback the AV content from the beginning when a current playback positionof the display-playback apparatus 14 at which the catch operation isperformed is less than a predetermined time.

In the content display-playback system 2, further, when the operationcontrol apparatus 17 controls the display-playback operation so as toplay back, by means of a catch operation, AV content currently playedback by the display-playback apparatus 14 by streaming, it can bedetermined whether or not streaming playback by the display-playbackapparatus 14 is terminated when the catch operation is performed.

Although the details of the settings described above are discussedbelow, the content display-playback system 2 is a contentdisplay-playback system in which at least one server (the contentproviding apparatus 12) that distributes audio-visual content viastreaming and a plurality of clients (the display-playback apparatus 14and the operation control apparatus 17) that play back the contentdistributed via streaming from the server in a streaming manner areconnected, wherein, when a streaming distribution request is receivedfrom a second client (the operation control apparatus 17) in theplurality of clients during streaming distribution to a first client(the display-playback apparatus 14) in the plurality of clients, thesecond client can make settings regarding an operation of the firstclient and an operation of the second client. In the contentdisplay-playback system 2, therefore, a playback start position and soforth can be set according to user's preferences when video data locatedon the content providing apparatus 12, which is a server, is displayedand played back by one or a plurality of clients while the video data istransmitted and received among the server and the client or clients.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the content providing apparatus12. The same applies to the content providing apparatus 13. The contentproviding apparatus 12 is an AV content server, such as a digital videorecorder. The content providing apparatus 12 includes a networkinterface unit 20, a content distributing unit 21, and a content storageunit 22.

In the content display-playback system 10, the content providingapparatus 12 stores video and audio content (hereinafter referred to as“content”) received at home via satellite digital broadcasting,terrestrial analog broadcasting, or the Internet in the content storageunit 22 shown in FIG. 4, which is a large-capacity storage medium suchas a hard disk, as streaming data. In response to a distribution requesttransmitted from the operation control apparatus 17 via the networkinterface unit 20, the content distributing unit 21 reads and plays backthe streaming data stored in the content storage unit 22, and thecontent providing apparatus 12 distributes the streaming data to therequesting display-playback apparatus or the operation control apparatus17 via the network interface unit 20.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example hardware configuration of thecontent providing apparatus 12. A central processing unit (CPU) 23executes various processes according to server programs stored in a readonly memory (ROM) 24 or server programs loaded from a hard disk drive 22onto a random access memory (RAM) 25. The RAM 25 also stores datanecessary for the CPU 23 to execute the various processes, if necessary.

The CPU 23, the ROM 24, and the RAM 25 are connected to one another viaa bus 26. An input/output interface 27 is also connected to the bus 26.

The input/output interface 27 is connected to an input unit 28 composedof a button, a switch, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, an output unit29 including a display, such as a CRT or an LCD, and a speaker, acommunication unit 20 composed of a modem, a terminal adapter, or thelike, which functions as the network interface unit 20, and a hard diskdrive 22, which functions as the content storage unit 22.

The communication unit 20 performs communication via the home network11. In the content display-playback system 10, the communication units20 of the content providing apparatuses 12 and 13 are connected to thewireless LAN access point 11 c via the hub 11 a using lines 11 b. Thecommunication units 20 are also connected to the display-playbackapparatuses 14, 15, and 16 via the hub 11 a using lines 11 b. Thus, thecontent providing apparatuses 12 and 13 are connected to the operationcontrol apparatus 17 via the communication units 20 through wirelesscommunication paths in the home network 11, and are connected to thedisplay-playback apparatuses 14, 15, and 16 through the wiredcommunication paths 11 b. Wireless communication is performed betweenthe wireless LAN access point 11 c and the operation control apparatus17, discussed below, according to a predetermined protocol, such as theIEEE 802.11 protocol or an extension to the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

The hard disk drive 22 stores the server programs and media data to bedistributed via streaming.

The input/output interface 27 is also connected to a drive 30, if any. Amagnetic disc 31, an optical disc 32, a magneto-optical disc 33, asemiconductor memory 34, or the like is loaded in the drive 30, if any,and a computer program (such as a server program) read therefrom isinstalled in the hard disk drive 22, if necessary.

In relation to the functional block diagram of FIG. 4, the componentsshown in FIG. 5 function as follows. The communication unit 20 functionsas the network interface unit 20, and the HDD 22 functions as thecontent storage unit 22. The CPU 23, the ROM 24, the RAM 25, and each ofthe media 31 to 34 connected to the drive 30 functions as the contentdistributing unit 21.

The operation of the content providing apparatus 12 will be describedwith reference to the hardware configuration. The content providingapparatus 12 is a computer, and the CPU 23 executes a streaming datadistribution process according to a server program. For example, thecontent providing apparatus 12 stores various types of media data in theHDD 22. For example, when a request for distributing certain media datavia streaming is issued from the operation control apparatus 17 via thehome network 11, the content providing apparatus 12 reads thecorresponding content data, generates packets for streaming distributionof the content data, and delivers the packets via the home network 11.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of each of the display-playbackapparatuses 14, 15, and 16. The display-playback apparatus 14, by way ofexample, has a streaming playback function for receiving streaming datadistributed via streaming from the content providing apparatus 12 or 13and playing back and displaying the streaming data on an LCD or a CRT,and a function for playing back and outputting audio data associatedwith the video from a speaker. The display-playback apparatus 14includes a network interface unit 40 having an interface function forconnecting to the home network 11, a content receiving unit 41 thatreceives streaming data (content data) via the network interface unit40, a content decoding unit 42 that decodes the content data, a contentplayback unit 43 that plays back the content data decoded by the contentdecoding unit 42, a content display unit 44 that displays the video ofthe played back content, and a content audio output unit 45 that outputsthe audio of the played back content.

The display-playback apparatus 14 operates as a streaming playbackfunction unit by using the function units illustrated in FIG. 6 in thefollowing manner. The network interface unit 40 connects to the homenetwork 11; the content receiving unit 41 receives streaming data(content data) via the network interface unit 40; the content decodingunit 42 decodes the content data; the content playback unit 43 playsback the content data decoded by the content decoding unit 42; thecontent display unit 44 displays the played back video of the content;and the content audio output unit 45 outputs audio associated with thevideo.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example hardware configuration of thedisplay-playback apparatuses 14, 15, and 16. For example, thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 includes a communication unit(communication interface) 40, a receiving unit 41, a decoding unit 42, avideo signal processing unit 43-V, an LCD 44, an audio signal amplifyingunit 43-A, and a speaker 45. The respective components of thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 are controlled by a control unit mainlyincluding a CPU 46. The control unit is a microcomputer in which the CPU46, a ROM 48, a RAM 49, and an electrically erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM) 50 are connected via a CPU bus 47. The CPU 46is connected to a key input unit 52 via an input interface 51, andreceives an operation signal from the user, such as an audio volumecontrol signal, an image quality control signal, or a power on/offcontrol signal.

The ROM 48 stores various processing programs executed by thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 and the like and data necessary forprocesses. The RAM 49 is used mainly as a work area for variousprocesses, e.g., for temporarily storing data obtained in the variousprocesses.

The EEPROM 50 is a non-volatile memory designed so that the storedinformation is not lost when the power is turned off, and is adapted tostore and hold various setting parameters.

The communication unit (communication interface) 40 performscommunication via the home network 11. In the content display-playbacksystem 10, the communication unit 40 of the display-playback apparatus14 is connected to the wireless LAN access point 11 c via the hub 11 ausing the line 11 b. The display-playback apparatus 14 is also connectedto the content providing apparatuses 12 and 13 via the hub 11 a usingthe lines 11 b. Thus, the display-playback apparatuses 14, 15, and 16are connected to the operation control apparatus 17 via thecommunication units 40 through wireless communication paths in the homenetwork 11, and are connected to the content providing apparatuses 12and 13 through the wired communication paths 11 b.

The receiving unit 41 performs processing, such as demodulation, on thesupplied signal, and supplies the demodulated signal to the decodingunit (expanding unit) 42. The content providing apparatuses 12 and 13compress display data, such as text data and video data, and audio dataof a terrestrial broadcast program, or information signals, such asvideo and audio signals, of a satellite broadcast program, and transmitthe compressed data.

The decoding unit 42 of the display-playback apparatus 14 separates thedemodulated compressed data signal supplied from the receiving unit 41into a video signal and an audio signal, and expands (decompresses) theseparated signals to recover the original signals before compression.

The decoding unit 42 performs digital/analog (D/A) conversion on therecovered video and audio signals to produce an analog video signal andan analog audio signal. The decoding unit 42 supplies the analog videosignal to the video signal processing unit 43-V, and supplies the analogaudio signal to the audio signal amplifying unit 43-A.

The video signal processing unit 43-V produces a display signal from thevideo signal supplied from the decoding unit 42, and supplies it to theLCD 44. Thus, an image corresponding to the video signal transmittedfrom the content providing apparatus 12 or 13 is displayed on thedisplay screen of the LCD 44.

The audio signal amplifying unit 43-A amplifies the supplied audiosignal to a predetermined level, and supplies the amplified signal tothe speaker 45. Thus, sound corresponding to the audio signal associatedwith the video signal transmitted from the content providing apparatus12 or 13 is output from speaker 45.

Therefore, each of the display-playback apparatuses 14 to 16 receivesvideo and audio signals of a television broadcast program transmittedfrom the content providing apparatus 12 or 13 via the home network 11,and plays back and outputs the received video and audio signals, therebyproviding the video and audio to the user.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the operation control apparatus17. The operation control apparatus 17 is a remote operation apparatus(remote controller) for controlling the operations of the contentproviding apparatuses 12 and 13 and display-playback apparatuses 14, 15,and 16 connected to the home network 11. The operation control apparatus17 is provided with a display device, such as an LCD, and is capable ofplaying back AV content distributed via streaming from the contentproviding apparatuses 12 and 13. The operation control apparatus 17therefore has a function of playing back AV content by streaming and afunction of controlling the content providing apparatuses 12 and 13 anddisplay-playback apparatuses 14, 15, and 16 connected to the homenetwork 11.

Specifically, the operation control apparatus 17 controls transfer(transmission and reception or transmission) of video signal betweenapparatuses including the operation control apparatus 17, and controlsthe display of video and the playback of audio on the display-playbackapparatuses 14 to 16 and the operation control apparatus 17. Theoperation control apparatus 17 includes an input operation receptionunit 60 that receives an operation input by the user, a control signalgeneration unit 62 having a video-information-transmission-and-receptionsignal generation function of generating an operation signal fortransmitting and receiving video signal between the apparatusesaccording to the input operation, and a display unit 63 that displaysvideo information played back by streaming according to the operationsignal generated by the control signal generation unit 62. The operationcontrol apparatus 17 also has an audio playback function for playingback audio information to allow the user to listen to sound usinginternal speakers or headphones or earphones through headphoneterminals. In this embodiment, the operation control apparatus 17 alsofunctions as a display-playback apparatus for displaying and playingback content.

The operation control apparatus 17 further includes a network interfaceunit 64 for performing wireless communication with the wireless LANaccess point 11 c in the home network 11 according to a predeterminedprotocol, such as the IEEE 802.11 protocol or an extension to the IEEE802.11 protocol. The operation control apparatus 17 further includes acontent receiving unit 65 that receives and demodulates content-relatedinformation stored in the content providing apparatuses 12 and 13 andthe content data itself.

The operation control apparatus 17 further includes a list generationunit 66 that generates a content list from the content-relatedinformation received and demodulated by the content receiving unit 65,and a list display unit 67 that displays the list generated by the listgeneration unit 66. The operation control apparatus 17 further includesa content playback unit 68 that decodes and plays back the content datareceived and demodulated by the content receiving unit 65, and a storageunit 69 that stores the content data played back by the content playbackunit 68. The content data played back by the content playback unit 68 isdisplayed as video by the display unit 63.

The operation control apparatus 17 further includes an input operationdetermination unit 61 between the input operation reception unit 60 andthe control signal generation unit 62 for determining the user's inputoperation received by the input operation reception unit 60.

The control signal generation unit 62 generates various control signalsaccording to the determination performed by the input operationdetermination unit 61 on the key input performed by the user bypressing, rotating, or moving up or down the handle or the like of theinput operation reception unit 60. Specific examples of the generatedcontrol signals include a throw operation signal, a catch operationsignal, and a copy operation signal. The throw operation signal is asignal for allowing content data stored in a desired content providingapparatus to be played back by a desired display-playback apparatus bystreaming. The catch operation signal is a signal for allowing contentdata displayed on a display-playback apparatus to be displayed on thedisplay unit 63 of the operation control apparatus 17. The copyoperation signal is a signal for copying content data to the storageunit 69 during the catch operation.

The control signal generation unit 62 further generates a contentprovider selection signal for selecting the desired content providingapparatus 12 or 13 according to a user's input operation. The controlsignal generation unit 62 further generates a content selection signalfor selecting desired content. The content selection signal is generatedaccording to an operation by the user viewing a content list. Thecontent list is created by the list generation unit 66 from thecontent-related information received by the content receiving unit 65,and is displayed by the list display unit 67. The control signalgeneration unit 62 further generates a display-playback-apparatusselection signal for selecting one of the display-playback apparatuses14, 15, and 16. The display-playback-apparatus selection signal isgenerated according to an operation by the user viewing adisplay-playback-apparatus-list displayed on thedisplay-playback-apparatus-list display unit 70.

The control signal generation unit 62 not only generates playbackoperation signals for playing back content on the display unit 63 of theoperation control apparatus 17 and stopping and pausing the playback,but also generates operation signals for starting, stopping, and pausingplayback of content on any of the display-playback apparatuses 14, 15,and 16 selected to display the content.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example hardware configuration of the operationcontrol apparatus 17. The operation control apparatus 17 is configuredsuch that a CPU 71 is connected to a network communication unit 64, acodec unit 74, a graphics display processor (GDP) 78, and a VRAM 79 viaa bus 72. The CPU 71 is further connected to a ROM/RAM 73, an LCD 63,and a storage device 69. An input switch matrix unit 60, which isequivalent to the input operation unit 60, is connected to the CPU 71.

The network communication unit 64 performs wireless communication withthe wireless LAN access point 11 c via an antenna 80 according to apredetermined protocol, such as the IEEE 802.11 protocol or an extensionto the IEEE 802.11 protocol, as discussed above.

The wireless communication performed by the network communication unit64 enables the operation control apparatus 17 to transmit the controlsignals generated by the CPU 71, which functions as the control signalgeneration unit 62, according to a user's input operation via the inputoperation unit (input switch matrix unit) 60 to the content providingapparatuses 12 and 13 or the display-playback apparatuses 14, 15, and 16connected to the home network 11 via the access point 11 c. Further, theoperation control apparatus 17 receives response signals from therespective apparatuses.

The ROM 73 stores a content display-playback program of an embodiment ofthe present invention, various process programs executed by theoperation control apparatus 17, and data necessary for the processes.The RAM 73 is used mainly as a work area for various processes, e.g.,for temporarily storing data obtained in the various processes.

The operation control apparatus 17 may further include an EEPROM, whichis a non-volatile memory. The EEPROM is designed so that the storedinformation is not lost if the power is turned off, and is adapted tostore and hold various setting parameters, etc.

The storage unit 69 is a memory device in which, for example, contentdata distributed via streaming from the content providing apparatus 12or 13 is stored when a catch function is carried out. The storage unit69 may be a semiconductor memory or an HDD.

The codec unit 74 decodes video and audio data distributed via streamingthrough the network communication unit 64 and separated under thecontrol of the CPU 71. The decoded video information is subjected tovideo signal processing by the GDP 78, and is then displayed on the LCD63. The audio information is amplified by an amplifier 75, and is thenfed to 2-channel stereo speakers 76L and 76R to output sound from thespeakers 76L and 76R.

The operation control apparatus 17 of the present embodiment thereforefunctions not only as a remote control (remote operation) apparatus butalso as a display-playback apparatus capable of displaying and playingback content. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of software executed by the CPU71 of the operation control apparatus 17 having the above-describedhardware configuration. A remote command application 81 generates aremote operation signal and controls the content providing apparatuses12 and 13 and the display-playback apparatuses 14, 15, and 16. Avideo/music/image decoder 82, a remote device controller 83, a graphicslibrary 84, and a video stream processor 85 are executed based on anoperating system (OS) 86. A network protocol processor 87 executes an802.11b wireless protocol 88, as discussed above. A graphics processor89 is executed by the GDP 78.

FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 are views provided by the content display-playbacksystem 11, illustrating a view displayed on the operation controlapparatus 17, on a view displayed on the display-playback apparatus 14by a throw operation, and a view displayed on the operation controlapparatus 17 by a catch operation, respectively.

First, referring to FIG. 11, a list of content items, e.g., content A,content B, and content C, is displayed on the LCD 63 on a display panelprovided on the operation control apparatus 17 according to contentinformation stored in the content providing apparatus 12 (17-1). Theuser uses a cursor movement button 90 to place a cursor 91 on the nameof a desired content item to display a shaded content item on the list,and presses a set button 92 to display the selected content item, i.e.,the content A, on the LCD 63 of the operation control apparatus 17(17-2). If history information indicating that the content A has beenplayed back to the middle exists, the content A can be played back fromthe middle.

Then, referring to FIG. 12, a control case where the selected content Ais played back by the display-playback apparatus 14 will be described.The operation control apparatus 17 is provided with a joystick handle 93on an operation panel of the operation control apparatus 17, and anoperation of the joystick handle 93 is assigned to switching of contentitems. When the content A selected on the operation control apparatus 17is to be displayed on the display-playback apparatus 14 by switching thedisplay, the joystick handle 93 is moved up (as indicated by a blackup-arrow) to perform a throw operation (17-3). The throw operationenables the content A to be played back by the display-playbackapparatus 14 by streaming. The content A displayed on the LCD 63 of theoperation control apparatus 17 disappears. However, the content A maystill be displayed on the LCD 63. While the throw operation is performedin a state where the content A is displayed on the LCD 63 of theoperation control apparatus 17, the throw operation may be performedimmediately after the icon of the content A is selected on the operationcontrol apparatus 17.

Then, referring to FIG. 13, a control case where the selected content Ais played back again on the operation control apparatus 17. In theoperation control apparatus 17, as discussed above, an operation of thejoystick handle 93 is assigned to switching of content items. When thecontent A selected on the operation control apparatus 17 is displayed onthe operation control apparatus 17 by switching the display from thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 (14-1), the joystick handle 93 is moveddown (as indicated by a black down-arrow) to perform a catch operation(17-5). The catch operation enables the content A to be played back bythe operation control apparatus 17 in a streaming manner by changing thedisplay of the content A from the display-playback apparatus 14 to theoperation control apparatus 17 (17-6). The content A displayed on theLCD 44 of the display-playback apparatus 14 disappears (14-2). However,the content A may still be displayed on the LCD 44 of thedisplay-playback apparatus 14.

The content display-playback system 10 is configured to make settingsregarding an operation to be performed for transmitting and receiving(for example, throwing or catching) video data located on a contentproviding apparatus among the display-playback apparatuses 14 to 16 andthe operation control apparatus 17 via the home network 11 by means of athrow operation or a catch operation using the operation controlapparatus 17.

FIG. 14 illustrates a throw/catch operation setting menu 120 displayedon the LCD 63 on the operation panel of the operation control apparatus17. The throw/catch operation setting menu 120 allows the user tobeforehand make settings regarding the throw and catch operations. Thesettings can be made using the input switch operation matrix unit 60.

The operation setting menu 120 includes an operation setting field 121for first allowing the user to select whether or not the throw and catchoperations are assigned to the joystick handle 93. In the example shownin FIG. 14, assignment of the throw and catch operations is selected.The user moves the joystick handle 93 up to give a throw instruction,and moves the joystick handle 93 down to give a catch instruction.

The settings of the throw operation in a first setting field 122 withregard to playback by the first client (the display-playback apparatus14) will be described. The throw operation is an operation ofdistributing AV content via streaming from the content providingapparatus 12 to the first client (the display-playback apparatus 14)immediately after selection of content by the second client (theoperation control apparatus 17) or in the middle of playback of thecontent on the second client (the operation control apparatus 17) andplaying back the AV content on the display-playback apparatus 14 bystreaming. In the first setting field 122 for the first client (thedisplay-playback apparatus 14), any of the following options is setwhenever immediately after selection of content by the operation controlapparatus 17 or in the middle of playback of the content on theoperation control apparatus 17:

the display-playback apparatus 14 starts playback from the beginning;

the display-playback apparatus 14 continues playback from the lastplayback position in the middle of the content played back by theoperation control apparatus 17 when the throw operation is performed;and

if the last playback position of the content played back by theoperation control apparatus 17 when the throw operation is performed isless than a predetermined time, e.g., one minute, the playback-displayapparatus 14 starts playback from the beginning. The user may select orenter arbitrary time as the predetermined time.

The settings of the throw operation in a second setting field 123 forthe display-playback apparatus 14 will be described. The second settingfield 123 allows the user to make a setting to determine whether or nota confirmation screen for allowing the user to confirm acceptance ofthrow-based playback is displayed when the display-playback apparatus 14designated as the throw destination is playing back streaming contentwhen the throw operation is performed by moving up the joystick handle93 of the operation control apparatus 17.

Next, the settings of the catch operation in a setting field 124 withregard to playback by the second client (the operation control apparatus17) will be described. The catch operation is an operation of switchingdisplay and playback from the first client (the display-playbackapparatus 14) to the second client (the operation control apparatus 17)when the joystick handle 93 of the operation control apparatus 17 ismoved down during playback of content on the display-playback apparatus14. The setting field 124 allows the user to select any of the followingoptions:

the operation control apparatus 17 starts playback from the beginningeven if playback by the display-playback apparatus 14 stops in themiddle;

the operation control apparatus 17 performs playback from the lastplayback position of the content played back by the display-playbackapparatus 14 when the catch operation is performed; and

if the last playback position of the content played back by thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 is less than a predetermined time, e.g.,one minute, playback is started from the beginning.

Next, the settings in a setting field 125 with regard to playback by thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 after performing the catch operation willbe described. The setting field 125 allows the user to set whether ornot streaming playback by the display-playback apparatus 14 isterminated when a catch operation onto the operation control apparatus17 is performed. If the setting in which streaming playback isterminated when the catch operation is performed is made, no video isdisplayed on the LCD 44 of the display-playback apparatus 14 when thecatch operation is performed. If the setting in which streaming playbackis not terminated is made, video is still displayed on the LCD 44 of thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 when the catch operation is performed,and, therefore, both the operation control apparatus 17 and thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 perform streaming playback.

FIGS. 15 to 17 are flowcharts showing a processing procedure of a throwoperation on the operation control apparatus 17 according to thesettings of the throw and catch operations made beforehand in theoperation setting menu 120 in the manner described above.

First, in step S81, a request for content information is issued. In stepS82, the content information is obtained from the content providingapparatus 12, and a content information list is displayed on theoperation control apparatus 17.

When the operation control apparatus 17 detects upward movement of thejoystick handle 93 on the input switch matrix unit 60 and determinesthat a throw operation instruction is given (YES in step S83), theoperation control apparatus 17 issues a request for sending the state ofthe display-playback apparatus 14 designated as the throw destination tothe display-playback apparatus 14 (step S84), and obtains the state fromthe display-playback apparatus 14 (step S85). Then, the process proceedsto step S86 shown in FIG. 16.

In step S86 shown in FIG. 16, it is determined whether or not thedisplay-playback apparatus 14 is under the playback mode from the stateof the display-playback apparatus 14 obtained in step S85. If it isdetermined in step S86 that the display-playback apparatus 14 is underthe playback mode, the process proceeds to step S87. If it is determinedin step S86 that the display-playback apparatus 14 is not under theplayback mode, the process proceeds to step S91 shown in FIG. 17,discussed below. In step S87, the settings for the display-playbackapparatus 14 in the second setting field 123 shown in FIG. 14 areloaded. In step S88, it is determined whether or not the setting for thedisplay-playback apparatus 14, that is, the setting for displaying aconfirmation screen for allowing the user to confirm acceptance ofthrow-based playback, is made. If it is determined that the setting fordisplaying the confirmation screen is made, then, in step S89, theconfirmation screen is displayed. The confirmation screen includesmessages, such as “the throw operation was requested.” and “do you wishto continue the throw operation or reject the continuation?”. If it isdetermined in step S88 that the setting for displaying the confirmationscreen is not made, the process skips step S89 and proceeds to step S90.If it is determined in step S90 that the user selects “continue thethrow operation” in response to the prompts on the confirmation screen,the process proceeds to step S91 shown in FIG. 17. If it is determinedin step S90 that the user rejects the continuation of the throwoperation, the throw operation is interrupted and terminated. In thiscase, the operation on the display-playback apparatus 14 stillcontinues.

In step S91 shown in FIG. 17, the operation control apparatus 17specifies the currently played back content. In step S92, the settingsfor the first client (the display-playback apparatus 14) in the firstsetting field 122 are loaded. In step S93, the last playback position isobtained. In step S94, the last playback position obtained in step S93is specified in the display-playback apparatus 14. Upon receiving aresponse from the display-playback apparatus 14, in step S95, theoperation control apparatus 17 issues a playback start request. Forexample, if the setting for continuing playback from a playback positionat which the throw operation is performed is set in the first settingfield 122 shown in FIG. 14, the operation control apparatus 17 requeststhe display-playback apparatus 14 to start playback from the playbackposition at which the throw operation is performed.

A processing procedure of the catch operation is performed by theoperation control apparatus 17 in a substantially similar manner to theprocessing procedure of the throw operation discussed above according tothe throw/catch operation settings made beforehand in the operationsetting menu 120.

As described above, in the content display-playback system 2 shown inFIG. 2, the operation control apparatus 17 allow the display-playbackapparatus 14 to play back the content from the beginning of the content,from a playback position of the content played back by the operationcontrol apparatus 17 at which the throw operation is performed, or fromthe beginning of the content if the playback position of the contentplayed back by the operation control apparatus 17 at which the throwoperation is performed is less than a predetermined time. That is, theplayback start position can be set according to user's preferences whenvideo data located on a content providing apparatus, which is a server,is displayed and played back by one or a plurality of clients while thevideo data is transmitted and received.

Further, when the AV content from the content providing apparatus 12 isplayed back by the display-playback apparatus 14 by means of a throwoperation, the user can use the operation control apparatus 17 todetermine whether or not a confirmation screen for allowing the user toconfirm acceptance of throw-based playback by the display-playbackapparatus 14 is displayed.

Further, when the operation control apparatus 17 controls adisplay-playback operation so as to play back, by means of a catchoperation, AV content currently played back by streaming by thedisplay-playback apparatus 14, the operation control apparatus 17 canplay back the AV content from the beginning, from a playback position atwhich the catch operation is performed, or from the beginning of the AVcontent if the playback position of the display-playback apparatus 14 atwhich the catch operation is performed is less than a predeterminedtime. That is, the playback start position can be set according touser's preferences when video data located on a content providingapparatus, which is a server, is displayed and played back by one or aplurality of clients while the video data is transmitted and received.

Further, when the operation control apparatus 17 controls adisplay-playback operation so as to play back, by means of a catchoperation, AV content currently played back by streaming by thedisplay-playback apparatus 14, it can be determined whether or notstreaming playback by the display-playback apparatus 14 is terminatedwhen the catch operation is performed.

Further, by loading a recording medium having recorded thereon a programimplementing a content display-playback method according to anembodiment of the present invention, in a content display-playbacksystem, an apparatus for controlling a display-playback operation ofcontent can use existing hardware to set a playback start positionaccording to user's preferences when video data located on a contentproviding apparatus, which is a server, is displayed and played back byone or a plurality of clients while the video data is transmitted andreceived.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A content display-playback system comprising: at least one serverthat distributes audio-visual content via streaming; and at least oneclient that plays back, by streaming, the content distributed viastreaming from the server, the server and the client being connected,wherein the client beforehand makes settings regarding a clientoperation to be performed for submitting a streaming distributionrequest to the server to perform playback by streaming, the at least oneclient comprises a first client including a display-playback apparatusand a second client including a content display-playback operationcontrol apparatus, the second client controls a display-playbackoperation for content selected by the second client and displays thecontent selected by the second client so that the content from theserver is played back by the first client by a throw operation performedat the second client, and when the second client controls adisplay-playback operation for content selected by the second client sothat the content from the server is played back by the first client by athrow operation, the second client makes settings so that the firstclient plays back the content from the beginning when a current playbackposition of the second client at which the throw operation is performedis less than a predetermined time.
 2. The content display-playbacksystem according to claim 1, wherein the second client makes thesettings so that playback is performed from the beginning of the contentwhen the first client performs playback by streaming.
 3. The contentdisplay-playback system according to claim 1, wherein: when the secondclient controls a display-playback operation for content selected by thesecond client so that the content from the server is played back by thefirst client by a throw operation, the second client makes settings sothat the first client plays back the content from a current playbackposition of the second client at which the throw operation is performed.4. The content display-playback system according to claim 1, wherein:when the second client controls a display-playback operation for contentselected by the second client so that the content distributed from theserver is played back by the first client by a throw operation, it isdetermined whether or not a confirmation screen for allowing a user toconfirm acceptance of throw-based playback by the first client isdisplayed.
 5. The content display-playback system according to claim 1,wherein: when the second client controls a display-playback operation soas to play back, by a catch operation, content currently played back bythe first client by streaming, the second client plays back the contentfrom the beginning.
 6. The content display-playback system according toclaim 1, wherein: when the second client controls a display-playbackoperation so as to play back, by a catch operation, content currentlyplayed back by the first client by streaming, the second client playsback the content from a current playback position at which the catchoperation is performed.
 7. The content display-playback system accordingto claim 1, wherein: when the second client controls a display-playbackoperation so as to play back, by a catch operation, content currentlyplayed back by the first client by streaming, the second client playsback the content from the beginning when a current playback position ofthe first client at which the catch operation is performed is less thana predetermined time.
 8. The content display-playback system accordingto claim 1, wherein: when the second client controls a display-playbackoperation so as to play back, by a catch operation, content currentlyplayed back by the first client by streaming, it is determined whetheror not streaming playback by the first client is terminated when thecatch operation is performed.
 9. A content display-playback method for acontent display-playback system in which at least one server thatdistributes audio-visual content via streaming and at least one clientthat plays back, by streaming, the content distributed via streamingfrom the server are connected, the content display-playback methodcomprising: allowing the at least one client to beforehand make settingsregarding a client operation to be performed for submitting a streamingdistribution request to the server to perform playback by streaming,wherein the at least one client comprises a first client that includes adisplay-playback apparatus and a second client that includes a contentdisplay-playback operation control apparatus; and controlling, by thesecond client, a display-playback operation for content selected by thesecond client and displayed at the second client so that the contentfrom the server is played back by the first client by a throw operationperformed at the second client, wherein when the second client controlsa display-playback operation for content selected by the second clientso that the content from the server is played back by the first clientby a throw operation, the second client makes settings so that the firstclient plays back the content from the beginning when a current playbackposition of the second client at which the throw operation is performedis less than a predetermined time.
 10. A non-transitory recording mediumhaving a content display-playback program recorded thereon, the contentdisplay-playback program being executed by a content display-playbacksystem in which at least one server that distributes audio-visualcontent via streaming and at least one client that plays back, bystreaming, the content distributed via streaming from the server areconnected, wherein the content display-playback program allows the atleast one client to make settings regarding a client operation to beperformed for submitting a streaming distribution request to the serverto perform playback by streaming, wherein the at least one clientcomprises a first client that includes a display-playback apparatus anda second client that includes a content display-playback operationcontrol apparatus, the second client controls a display-playbackoperation for content selected by the second client and displayed at thesecond client so that the content from the server is played back by thefirst client by a throw operation performed at the second client, andwhen the second client controls a display-playback operation for contentselected by the second client so that the content from the server isplayed back by the first client by a throw operation, the second clientmakes settings so that the first client plays back the content from thebeginning when a current playback position of the second client at whichthe throw operation is performed is less than a predetermined time. 11.An operation control apparatus in a content display-playback system, theoperation control apparatus being used as a client connected to a serverthat distributes audio-visual content via streaming, the operationcontrol apparatus being operable to play back, by streaming, the contentdistributed via streaming from the server, wherein the operation controlapparatus beforehand makes settings regarding a client operation to beperformed for submitting a streaming distribution request to the servervia a communication interface of the operation control apparatus toperform playback by streaming, the operation control apparatus includesa processor configured to control a display-playback operation forcontent selected by the operation control apparatus and displayed at theoperation control apparatus so that the content from the server isplayed back by a first client connected to the operation controlapparatus by a throw operation performed at the operation controlapparatus, and when the processor of the operation control apparatuscontrols a display-playback operation for content selected by theoperation control apparatus so that the content from the server isplayed back by the first client by a throw operation, the operationcontrol apparatus makes settings so that the first client plays back thecontent from the beginning when a current playback position of theoperation control apparatus at which the throw operation is performed isless than a predetermined time.
 12. The operation control apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein the streaming distribution to theoperation control apparatus and the streaming distribution requestsubmitted to the server are performed by the communication interface ofthe operation control apparatus via wireless communication.
 13. Acontent display-playback system comprising: a server configured todistribute content via streaming; a first client including adisplay-playback apparatus configured to reproduce the contentdistributed by the server; and a second client including a contentdisplay-playback operation control apparatus configured to reproduce thecontent distributed from the server, wherein the second client controlsa display-playback operation for content selected by the second clientand displays the content selected by the second client so that thecontent from the server is played back by the first client by a throwoperation performed at the second client, and when the second clientcontrols a display-playback operation so as to play back, by a catchoperation, content currently played back by the first client bystreaming, the second client automatically starts playing back thecontent from the beginning upon initiation of the catch operation.
 14. Acontent display-playback system comprising: a server configured todistribute content via streaming; a first client including adisplay-playback apparatus configured to reproduce the contentdistributed by the server; and a second client including a contentdisplay-playback operation control apparatus configured to reproduce thecontent distributed from the server, wherein the second client controlsa display-playback operation for content selected by the second clientand displays the content selected by the second client so that thecontent from the server is played back by the first client by a throwoperation performed at the second client, and when the second clientcontrols a display-playback operation so as to play back, by a catchoperation, content currently played back by the first client bystreaming, the second client plays back the content from the beginningwhen a current playback position of the first client at which the catchoperation is performed is less than a predetermined time.